It's barely a month into the 2015 MLB season and the horrid injury news keeps on coming. The Los Angeles Dodgers can't catch a break with one of their top players while the Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays continue to endure starting rotation woes.
Outfielder Yasiel Puig is set to undergo an MRI today in Los Angeles after he reaggravated his left hamstring strain during a rehab assignment with Advanced Class-A Rancho Cucamonga on Friday, according to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
Manager Don Mattingly said Puig would not be activated from the disabled list on Monday.
The 24-year-old suffered the hamstring injury on Apr. 13 against the Seattle Mariners. Los Angeles initially had him on a day-to-day basis, but the injury was not going away and Puig landed on the DL on April 26. It's unknown when he'll be able to return to the Dodgers' lineup.
Just north in Oakland, the Athletics received devastating news regarding one of their starting pitchers.
Jarrod Parker, who was on the road to recovery from Tommy John surgery, has been diagnosed with a fractured medial epicondyle (the bone where one end of the TJ surgery graft is attached) in his right elbow, and yet another reconstructive procedure is likely on the way, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle and Jane Lee of MLB.com.
The right-hander missed all of 2014 after he tore his UCL in spring training for the second time in his career. He suffered this latest injury during his fourth rehab start of the season with Triple-A Nashville. He was a couple of weeks away from rejoining the A's, but instead will probably miss another year of action.
Also in the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays really can't catch a break with their starting rotation either. Just hours after they officially lost Alex Cobb to Tommy John surgery when the right-hander was found to have a significant year in his UCL, they were informed yesterday left-hander Drew Smyly has a tear in his labrum that will likely require season-ending surgery, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
The 25-year-old started the season on the disabled list after experiencing shoulder stiffness during spring training. He was activated on Apr. 24 and made three starts this year, going 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 21 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings.
The left-hander noted he's waiting to undergo an MRI on Monday to get more information regarding his injury, but at this point it's unknown if he'll be able to conduct rehab rather than undergo surgery.
At least Matt Moore will be returning soon as he continues to recover from the Tommy John procedure he underwent last season.
We'll be keeping updates on these three players as the week progresses.
UPDATE: Jarrod Parker is not expected to need a third Tommy John surgery, but will have surgery on Tuesday to repair the fracture, according to Slusser.
